A study published in the American Journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) shows that consuming drinks with probiotic bacteria change the activity of the genes in the small intestine.
September 9, 2010
A study published in the American Journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) shows that consuming drinks with probiotic bacteria change the activity of the genes in the small intestine.
Seven healthy volunteers drank dairy drinks with three different types of probiotic bacteria, each drink containing 10 billion bacteria. Six hours after consumption of these drinks biopsies were taken from the upper part of the small intestine (duodenum) for genetic research. The biopsies were taken by an endoscope brought into the mouth and stomach. The seven volunteers had to drink all three probiotic bacteria drinks or a sports drink without bacteria (placebo) with two weeks in between each. Neither the volunteers nor the physicians knew who was drinking what type of drink at what time.
Genetic research of the mucosa biopsies shows a change in the activity of hundreds of genes after drinking the bacteria drinks. The molecular pathways that were found show much resemblance to the pathways that certain medicines cause in the human body, Michiel Kleerebezem of Wageningen UR said. “Probiotics cause a local reaction in the mucosa of the small intestines. These effects are similar to the effects of components that the pharmaceutical industry applies to medicines, but less strong.” This concerns medicines influencing the immune system in a positive manner and medicines lowering the blood pressure. Based on this resemblance to medicines there might be new areas to discover for the application of probiotics, concluded the researchers.
PNAS article